To weigh or not to weigh

Tomorrow should be my first WI since I re-joined MFP.

I've been eating healthy (although not tracking) since the 3rd of January. When I weighed in at the beginning of last week, the scale showed me the exact same number it showed at the start of January.

Whaaat?

How could that be? I had been working out regularly, not had any binges, no fast food, no chocolate, no desserts period, when we did eat out I was vegetables with lean protein, I was not eating after 7, I was following all these healthy guidelines. How could the scale NOT show a change?

So I sat back and thought about it. And the only thing I wasn't doing was journalling/tracking what I was eating. I was eating food that was good for me - but was I eating too much?

For a full week now I've been tracking what I'm eating. That, with training for my half marathon training and Tony Greco 2 days a week (it used to be 3, but now I have to run 4 days a week and I need at least one day of rest), I finally feel like I'm starting to move in the right direction. I've noticed it in my clothes, it my face, in my side profile - and I'm honestly feeling wonderful.

If the scale will be an accurate representation of how I feel, then I want to step on it tomorrow morning. But I'm scared. Scared that it won't show movement and I will be angry, and then my "if I'm not losing I may as well not be doing all this" has a chance to rear it's ugly head. I think I've come so far, but I know those thoughts and my alter-ego haven't gone away for good (yet).

For so long, the way I've been tracking my success is by the scale. How much weight I've lost. It's measurable, it's cold hard facts. Sure I know how I feel, but how do you measure your feelings?

I think part of the reason i was so successful on WW is because I was being held accountable to that scale every week (I also always would just think - I just have to make it to Friday, eat little as possible and then on Saturday I can eat whatever) - so really, is that successful? I suppose not.

Sometimes when I don't get on the scale for a long time, that's when I feel I have the freedom to allow myself little extra treats - and just think "I'll take it off next week".

After writing all this down, I guess I can see exactly WHY I'm still not at my goal weight (not just "not at" but "nowhere near") because I never did it the right away. I'm really trying to make this a lifestyle, and make it my normal weigh of eating, not just eating to lose weight.

So maybe I don't need to weigh myself. What does it matter what I've lost in THIS week. What matters is, I know I am closer to my goal then I was last week (and the goal not being a number, the "goal" to be HEALTHY and comfortable in my own skin!). I am better off then I was yesterday, then i was earlier this week, and I'm further along in my journey then I was when I started.

And that's what matters my friends.

Elephants

When I graduated university, my dad and step-mom gave me a gorgeus silver pendant of an elephant.

Why an elephant? Ornamental elephants are supposed to bring good luck to those that possess them (especially when their trunks are up. Although the trunk up/down issue has been discussed for years... I still like the idea of their trunks being up). And, elephants are considered one of the wisest animals. So now that I was finished university (and oh so very wise ;) and going off into the world, I needed all the luck I could get.

Since then, I've been given several different elephants (a gorgeus crystal one and a few wooden ones).

I was walking around this insane flea market while in Florida and I saw this staring at me. I had to have it.

It's one of those pieces of jewellery where I'm not sure if it's ugly or great. All I knew is that I wanted it (good thing it was only $10).

I may have also bought a $15 David Yurman knock off ring (if I win the lottery I'd love to buy a couple of these babies!.

This is the closest picture I could find to the one I bought (except mine's round). It's so very pretty.

Sign of old age

When you start googling "pain in left hip from running"

Can you see it?

The sweat that is.

I had to work from home this afternoon, so I took a little break and did the Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred. A few months ago, I wasn't entirely convinced that at home workouts were for me. And to be honest? They couldn't be my main source of exercise. BUT - when I can't get out (actually, today I could, but opted for an indoor workout anyway), it is a great alternative.

Look at me sweating! (heh, what a gross thing to make you look at!)


A small note: we had some chips in the house (we normally don't, but we had friends over yesterday so I bought some chips - big guy, loves his chips, but he left before we opened them, so we had a whole bag!). I had two small bowls while at home today, so even though today was supposed to be day workout day off, I wanted to burn some calories so the damage of the chips wouldn't be that great.

I'm back on myfitnesspal, look for me, I'm anniekiki

Bokity Choy Choy

I wish I wasn't so hungry so I could have taken pictures.

My typical go-to meal consists of:

• quinoa
• chicken
  
• veggies (cucumber, red pepper, onion, tomato....)
• fresh parsley
• EVOO & red wine vinegar
• Topped (if I feel like it) with a sprinkle of goats cheese

I toss it all together into a "salad".

This past week I've been reading about the importance of switching up your greens while drinking green smoothies. Most often I use spinach, so when I saw a big lettuce box full of bok choy at Costco I picked it up, to add to my rotation.


I saw it staring at me in the fridge while I was making our lunches, I decided to add it to my go to meal. I quickly searched for a recipe, coming up with this:

Ingredients

• 4 baby bok choy
• 1 tbsp (15 mL) vegetable oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced

Preparation

Trim base of each bok choy; cut in half lengthwise.

In large skillet, heat oil over medium heat; fry garlic until fragrant, about 30 seconds.

Add bok choy and 3 tbsp (50 mL) water; cover and steam until tender-crisp, about 5 minutes.

It was quick, easy and turned out delicious. I put my quinoa-chicken-veggie salad on top and it was as they say.... magnifique.

And what benefits did the bok choy add to my meal?

It's high in vitamin-A, vitamin-C, beta-carotene, calcium and dietary fiber.

This leafy vegetable is low fat, low calorie, and low carb and also contains potassium and vitamin-B6.

Some of the vitamins found in this super vegetable are also powerful antioxidants, making this tasty cabbage an extremely healthy treat.

The rich amount of beta-carotene inherent in this super vegetable can help to reduce the risk of certain cancers.

Beta-carotene has also been known to reduce the risk of cataracts.

It's also an excellent source of folic acid and can also contain other healthful nutrients like iron, depending on the soil where it was grown.

So really - it was one of those win win situations :)

Florida no more

We're back. In the cold. After a wonderful 8 day vacation. The weather was perfect to be beach-ing it with the kids, a warm 25 degrees most days. The waves were fun, the sand was hot, the boardwalk was always interesting, the park was full of new friends and the boys had a wonderful time.

And so did I.

On the food front? I did SO WELL. I had a piece of cheesecake (split into two days) and a kiddie cone of ice cream (from Ben and Jerry's, first time!) and that was it for dessert. Normally on vacation, dessert happens once a day!

But my friends, times... they are a changing.

I ran four times. 4k, 4k, 7k and 4k. I won't lie. It was hard. During the 7k I took 4 breaks. But I finished. And then I went out to do it again the next day.

My 4ks were taking about 30 minutes... so I'm slow. Very slow. But I'm running. And you know what? I still love it. I love the start, the middle and the end. Even though right now it's hard, I still smile while I'm doing it. I love that I'm pushing myself. I feel more like Christy and less like Mommy (ie: the person I've become since I had my kids). I always feel I have to justify that by saying yes, I LOVE being a mommy, but I love being Christy too :)


Would you just look at the bags under my eyes? I haven't been sleeping well at all the past couple of weeks and it's really starting to show. Lots of stress that's outside my control. A lot of sleepless nights staring at the ceiling worrying about friends, about family..... I'm close to considering taking something to help me sleep. Maybe I'll have a few glasses of wine tonight, that always helps (and hey, it's FRIDAY!)

Vacation includes...

Running 4k on my first official day of training - much easier running in Florida than in Ottawa winter.